Integral wheel and power elastic strip to power toy vehicle

ABSTRACT

A power unit for operating a toy vehicle which comprises a wheel or a plurality of wheels, said wheel or wheels being integrally molded with an elastic strip, with the opposite ends of the elastic strip detachably secured to a toy vehicle which anchors the opposite end of the strip against rotation to permit winding of said strip for storing the power or energy so that when the vehicle is manually released the strip will unwind and propel the vehicle.

United States te Kupperman et al.

[ Nev. 20, 1973 INTEGRAL WHEEL AND POWER ELASTKC STRIP T0 POWER TOY VEHICLE [76] lnventors: Sam Kupperman; Dennis 1. Kupperman,both of4l39 Main St,

, V KQ ie. [22] Filed: Sept. 11, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 287,795

[52] US. Cl. 46/90, 46/206 [51] Int. Cl A63h 29/18 [58] Field of Search 46/201, 206, 221

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,221,446 12/1965 Keck 46/206 2,971,289 2/1961 Reed et al 46/206 X 3,720,016 3/1973 Kupperman et al. 46/206 Primary Examiner-F. Barry Shay Attorney-Max R. Kraus [57 ABSTRACT A power unit for operating a toy vehicle which comprises a wheel or a plurality of wheels, said wheel or wheels being integrally molded with an elastic strip, with the opposite ends of the elastic strip detachably secured to a toy vehicle which anchors the opposite end of the strip against rotation to permit winding of said strip for storing the power or energy so that when the vehicle is manually released the strip will unwind and propel the vehicle.

9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTED NOV 20 I875 A//// I V m INTEGRAL WHEEL AND POWER ELASTIC STRIP TO POWER TOY VEHICLE BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Miniature toy vehicles which utilize elastic bands or rubberbands for powering the miniature toy have to be inexpensively produced. In some cases such toys are given away as premiums and packaged with a food or other product. Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide a power unit for a toy in which the wheel or wheels and the elastic strip which powers the toy vehicle is integrally molded, preferably of a thermoplastic rubber material, so that it can be readily secured to the toy vehicle and provide the power for propelling the toy.

Another object of this invention is to proide a power unit for a toy vehicle in which either a single wheel or a plurality of wheels are utilized and in which the elastic power strip is integrally molded with said wheel or wheels at a cost considerably less than that heretofore obtained.

Another object of this invention is to provide a very simple and inexpensive power means for a toy which is integrally molded and which may be readily attached to such a toy vehicle for powering same.

Other objects will become apparent as this description progresses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a miniature toy utilizing the power means of this invention in the rear wheels thereof.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the power unit as integrally molded and as ejected from the die.

FIG. 3A is a view of the clip which is secured to the power unit. 1

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a modification in which the power unit is in the form of a single wheel which is positioned at the front of the miniature toy.

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a view of the single wheel power unit as integrally molded and as ejected from the die.

FIGS. ll THROUGH 5 The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 will be first described. The invention can be applied to a toy of any character, such as a toy car, toy vehicle, toy snowmobile, or the like, which is of a miniature type, and the embodiment, for purpose of illustration, shows a miniature three-wheel motorcycle generally indicated at 10 which comprises a body generally indicated at 12 which is integrally molded preferably of a plastic material. The body 12 at the rear has a pair of spaced downwardly vertically extending sides 14 which are generally parallel with respect to each other. The lower portion of each vertical side 14 has a reduced width and is provided with an open-ended vertically extending tapered central slot 16 having a slight taper 17 and said slots are adapted to receive and wedgingly hold the opposite ends of the elastic strip of the power unit, presently to be described.

Spaced inwardly from the sides 14 and depending from the body 12, as best seen in FIG. 5, are spaced bearing members 18 which are integrally molded with the body 12 and extend downwardly from the top and which have arcuate-shaped open ended recesses 20 to receive and retain the generally annular journals of the axle of the power unit.

The power unit generally indicated at 22 comprises a centrally positioned axle 24 on the opposite ends of which are the spaced wheels 26, each having a hub 27. The power unit is integrally molded, as best shown in FIG. 3, and comprises a central axle 24 and the spaced wheels 26 and hubs 27 affixed to the opposite ends of the axle, with an elastic connecting strip 28 extending centrally of the axle and radially therefrom and with an elastic strip 30 which is positioned at right angles to the connecting strip 28. The elastic strip 30 forms with the connecting strip 28 a T-shaped configuration. Said elastic strip 30 is longer than the distance between the spaced wheels 26. The cross-section of the elastic strip 30 is generally rectangular to provide four corners for said strip.

The axle 24 is provided with a longitudinal slot 32 having spaced parallel walls 34. The axle slot 32 continues through each of the wheels and the slot in each wheel is designated by the numeral 36. The spaced walls 38 of the slot 36 in the wheel are parallel and alined with the spaced walls 34 in the axle slot 32. The axle slot 32 and wheel slots 36 are open-ended for insertion therethrough of the elastic strip 30. The longitudinal axle slot 32 is provided centrally thereof with a restriction point, generally indicated at 40, formed by a pair of spaced vertical walls 42 wherein the gap or space between the walls of the restriction point is less than the space between the vertical walls 34 of the remainder of the axle slot 32.

The entire power unit 22 just described is integrally molded of a thermoplastic material such as, for example, Shells Kraton, and when it is desired that same be used as a power unit the flexible connecting strip 23 is bent, as best seen in FIG. 4, so that the elongated elastic strip 30 is inserted into the slot 32 of the axle, as well as the slots 36 of the wheels 26, radially of the axis of said axle and wheels. The central portion of the elongated elastic strip 30 as well as the portion of the connecting strip 28 will be positioned within the restricted spaced walls 42 at the central restriction point 40 to firmly anchor the elastic strip at said restriction point against turning or twisting. The opposite ends of the elongated elastic strip 30 will each extend laterally of the wheels 26, as best seen in FIG. 2. The entire power unit 22 is then inserted in the recesses 20 of the bearing members 18 and the opposite ends of the elongated elastic strip 30 are inserted in the open-ended slots 16 of the toy vehicle body so as to be anchored against rotation therein. The elongated elastic strip 30 is therefore anchored adjacent its opposite ends in the tapered slots 16 and centrally in the axle at the restriction point 40 and the elastic strip 30 does not rotate at said three anchoring points.

To wind up the elastic strip the power unit 22 is rotated within the bearings 20 of the bearing supports I3 so that the elastic strip 30 is twisted between the outer anchoring points 16 and the intermediate anchoring point 40 to store up the power of the elastic strip. The winding up operation may be accomplished by just moving the miniature toy over a surface so that the wheels 26 and the axle 24 rotate as a unit to wind up the elastic strip 30. When the toy is released the power unit 22 will rotate in the opposite direction from that in which it was wound to untwist the elastic strip 30 and cause the toy to propel.

In some instances it may be desirable to provide a generally longitudinally split tubular member, generally indicated at 44 and best shown in FIGS. 3A and 4, formed of plastic and provided with a central transverse slot 46. The interior of the split tubular member is provided with an integrally formed longitudinal rib 48. The split tubular member 44 is positioned over the axle 24 to extend over the axle slot 32, with the longitudinal rib 48 bearing against the elastic strip 30 to help maintain the elastic strip 30 in the axle slot 32. in the case where the split tube 44 extends substantially the length of the axle, a portion of the tube would be within the bearings 20. This would not interfere with the rotation of the integrally formed wheels and axle when the power unit 22 was either wound or unwound.

If the elongated elastic strip 30 should break then a strip of rubberband can be inserted in the axle slot 32 as well as the wheel slots 36 and serve the same purpose as the elastic strip 30. The bearings are such that the axle and/or split tube thereon can be readily slipped in radially into said bearings and will be normally retained in said bearings. Although the power unit is rotatable relative to the bearings 20, the opposite ends of the elastic strip which are firmly anchored in the opposite end slots 16 will retain the power unit secured to the toy body 12.

The front wheel of the toy may be any type of wheel with an axle 52 extending laterally from the opposite sides thereof which is snapped into the recesses 54 of the forked front member 56 forming the front of the toy vehicle. The rear wheels 26 of the power unit form the drive wheels and the front wheel 50 is merely rotated as the toy is propelled. The entire toy vehicle body 12 may be inexpensively integrally molded of a plastic material and the power unit 22 may be readily attached thereto by snapping it in the bearings.

FIGS. 6, 7 AND 8 FIGS. 6 through 8 show a modification in which a single wheel and a power elastic strip, all integrally molded, is utilized as a power unit. In the illustration shown it is positioned at the front of the miniature toy vehicle, although it will be understood that it may be positioned at the rear of the toy.

The miniature toy vehicle is generally indicated at 60 and has a body 62 provided at the rear wih spaced vertically extending sides 63 which have a recess 64 at the bottom to receive an axle 65 on which freely rotatable wheels 66 are supported. The front of the miniature vehicle has spaced sides 67 which are connected to form an integral part of the plastic molded body 62 and the lower portion of the vertical sides has a reduced width and is provided with an open-ended vertically extending tapered central slot 68, each of which slots is adapted to receive and wedgingly hold the opposite ends of the elastic strip of the power unit, in the same manner as the sides 14 previously described. Spaced inwardly from the spaced sides 67 are spaced bearing members 70 having arcuate-shaped open-ended recesses 72 to receive and retain the journals of the axle of the single wheel power unit, to be described. The

bearings 70 serve the same purpose as the bearings 18 previously described.

The single wheel power unit generally indicated at 74 and best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 comprises a centrally positioned wheel 76 provided on the opposite sides thereof with annular hubs 77 and extending laterally from the opposite sides of the hubs are annular bearing surfaces or journals 78. Extending laterally and centrally of each of the bearing surfaces or journals 78 are elastic strips 80 and 82. The entire power unit and elastic strips are integrally formed of a thermoplastic rubber, similar to that previously described. The crosssectional shape of the elastic power strips 80 and 82 is the same as that previously described. The annular bearing surfaces of journals 78 of the wheel are positioned to rotate within the recesses 72 of the spaced bearing members 70 and the outer ends of the two elastic power strips 80 and 82 are anchored in anchoring slots 68, similar to that shown in connection with the toy vehicle previously described. Thus, the outer ends of the elastic power strips 80 and 82 would be anchored against rotation and since the inner ends of the elastic power strips are an integral part of the wheel structure the rotation of the wheel 76 will wind up the elastic power strips 80 and 82 and store the energy so that when the toy is released the wheel will rotate in the opposite direction and unwind the elastic power strips and thus propel the toy. The hubs 77 and the bearing surfaces or journals 78 in effect form the axle for the wheel 76.

What is claimed is:

1. A power unit for operating a toy having a body, said power unit comprising a wheel, an axle including means whereby said wheel may be rotatably supported on the body, means for powering said wheel including an elastic power strip formed integrally with said axle so as to be permanently joined thereto but distinct therefrom, said elastic power strip including means for anchoring said strip to the toy body and cooperable therewith to prevent relative rotation of said elastic strip and body at said anchoring point, said power unit comprising said wheel, axle and elastic power strip and being integrally formed and molded of a thermoplastic material, said wheel and axle adapted to be rotated in one direction to wind said strip so that when said wheel is released said axle and wheel will simultaneously rotate in the opposite direction as said strip unwinds to propel the toy.

2. A structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the entire power unit structure is integrally molded of a thermoplastic rubber material.

3. A structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the wheel is centrally positioned and in which the axle extends on the opposite sides of the wheel with an elastic power strip extending laterally of the opposite sides of said axle.

4. A structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the axle is centrally positioned with a pair of spaced wheels on the opposite ends of said axle and in which the elastic power strip is connected to said axle and in which the axle and wheels are provided with alined slots into which is radially inserted the elastic strip with the opposite ends of the elastic strip extending laterally of the wheels and anchored to the body.

5. A structure as set forth in claim 4 in which the axle is provided with restriction means so that when the elastic strip is inserted in said slot it is prevented from rotating by said restriction meansv 6. A structure as set forth in claim 4 in which the axle and the spaced wheels and the elastic strip are integrally molded of a thermoplastic material.

7. A structure as set forth in claim 6 in which the elastic strip is inserted into the slot of said axle and the wheel slots radially of the axis of said axle.

8. A structure as set forth in claim 4 in which a split tubular member fits over the axle and over the axle slot ing the power strip from the axle. 

1. A power unit for operating a toy having a body, said power unit comprising a wheel, an axle including means whereby said wheel may be rotatably supported on the body, means for powering said wheel including an elastic power strip formed integrally with said axle so as to be permanently joined thereto but distinct therefrom, said elastic power strip including means for anchoring said strip to the toy body and cooperable therewith to prevent relative rotation of said elastic strip and body at said anchoring point, said power unit comprising said wheel, axle and elastic power strip and being integrally formed and molded of a thermoplastic material, said wheel and axle adapted to be rotated in one direction to wind said strip so that when said wheel is released said axle and wheel will simultaneously rotate in the opposite direction as said strip unwinds to propel the toy.
 2. A structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the entire power unit structure is integrally molded of a thermoplastic rubber material.
 3. A structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the wheel is centrally positioned and in which the axle extends on the opposite sides of the wheel with an elastic power strip extending laterally of the opposite sides of said axle.
 4. A structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the axle is centrally positioned with a pair of spaced wheels on the opposite ends of said axle and in which the elastic power strip is connected to said axle and in which the axle and wheels are provided with alined slots into which is radially inserted the elastic strip with the opposite ends of the elastic strip extending laterally of the wheels and anchored to the body.
 5. A structure as set forth in claim 4 in which the axle is provided with restriction means so that when the elastic strip is inserted in said slot it is prevented from rotating by said restriction means.
 6. A structure as set forth in claim 4 in which the axle and the spaced wheels and the elastic strip are integrally molded of a thermoplastic material.
 7. A structure as set forth in claim 6 in which the elastic strip is inserted into the slot of said axle and the wheel slots radially of the axis of said axle.
 8. A structure as set forth in claim 4 in which a split tubular member fits over the axle and over the axle slot to retain the elastic power strip in the axle slot.
 9. A structure as set forth in claim 4 in which the connector connecting the power strip to the axle extends radially of the axle and at right angles to the elastic power strip and in which the axle, connector and power strip are integrally molded of an elastic material and in which the connector is folded or bent to permit insertion of the power strip into the axle slot without detaching the power strip from the axle. 